Definitions for keypunchˈkiˌpʌntʃ

This page provides all possible meanings and translations of the word keypunch

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keypunch(Noun)

A device, in which one or a combination of keys are pressed to punch holes in punched cards or paper tape that correspond to a particular character

keypunch(Noun)

an electric machine with a keyboard that has the same function

keypunch(Verb)

To use such a device or machine

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Keypunch

A keypunch is a device for precisely punching holes into punch cards at specific locations as determined by the keys struck by the operator.
For Jacquard looms, the resulting punched cards contained the program directing a loom's operation.
For Hollerith machines, other unit record machines, and computers, the resulting punched cards contained data to be processed. Early Hollerith keypunches were manual devices. Later keypunches were electromechanical devices which combined several different functions in one unit. These often resembled small desks with keyboards similar to those on typewriters and were equipped with hoppers for blank cards and stackers for punched cards. Some keypunch models could print, at the top of a column, the character represented by the hole punched in that column. The small pieces punched out by a keypunch fell into a chad box, or chip box, or bit bucket.
In many data processing applications, the punched cards were verified by keying exactly the same data a second time, checking to see if the second keying and the punched data were the same. There was a great demand for keypunch operators, usually women, who worked full-time on keypunch and verifier machines, often in large keypunch departments with dozens or hundreds of other operators.